Bathroom fixture



Sept. 20, 1966 K. w. WILKS, JR 3,273,172

BATHROOM FIVX'I'URE Filed Aug. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR KARLw. w|u s,.m.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,273,172 BATHROOM FIXTURE Karl W. Wdks,Jr., R0. Box 146, Vandalia, Ohio; Jeannette D. Wilks, executrix of saidKarl W. Wilks, Jr., deceased Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 304,511 9Claims. (Cl. 4-192) This invention pertains to a bathroom fixture andmore particularly to a combined bath tub filling and spray or showerdevice.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a fixture for a bathtub which may be used either to fill the tub directly or to provide anupwardly and outwardly directed shower.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined tub fillingand spray device which may be used with conventional tub and overheadshowers to eliminate the usual diverter valve or wall valve control forthe overhead shower.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined tub fillingand shower device which is adapted for installation on existing bathtubs.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tub filling andspray device including a combined valve seal and valve springarrangement which is characterized by long life and trouble-freeoperation.

Another object of this invention is to provide va valve seal for acombined tub filling and spray device which includes an elastomeric ringwhich operates both as a seal and as a valve spring.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, the

accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a tub filling and showerdevice constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the device of FIG. 1 withthe slide member in the raised position for direct tub filling;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the device of FIG. 2showing the slide member in the lowered position for showering;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through the slide member and the sealtaken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical fragmentary section taken generally along the line55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the valve sealingarrangement;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tub and shower installation includinga modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the modified form of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the embodiments of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section through the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view, similar to that of FIG. 6,showing the valve arrangement as applied to the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 12a, 12b and 12c are respectively taken generally along the line1212 of FIG. 10 and show the embodiment of FIG. 8 in its shower,diverter, and tub filling positions respectively; and

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of one of the faces of the filling spoutmanifold taken generally along the line 13-13 of FIG. 10.

Referring to the figures of the drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention, a combined tub filling and shower deviceis shown at 10 in FIG. 1 as being mounted in extending relation againstan inside wall of a bath tub 11. The device 10 is formed with a spout 12which is secured at one end by suitable means to the bath tub plumbingand which extends inwardly into the tub, as shown in FIG. 2. The spout12 may be internally threaded as indicated at 14 to receive the end of awater pipe 15, with the inner butt end of the spout 12 against theadjacent surface of the tub 11.

The spout 12 is formed with an internal passageway 20 opening into thepipe 15. The passageway 20 is terminated at a flat end wall 22 of thespout 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The end wall 22 forms one wall of agenerally vertically oriented slot 23 which is defined by the bifurcatedarms or wall portions 24 and 25 formed in the extended end of the spout12. Thus, the slot 23 is formed in intersecting relation to thepassageway 20, and is preferably formed with square side walls whichextend outwardly at right angles to the end wall 22.

Selection between tub filling, water diverting, or upwardly directedshowering is effected by a slide member 30 which is reciprocablyreceived within the slot 23. The slide member 30 is preferably formed ofsquare hollow stock and is slideably movable in the slot 23 betweenraised and lowered limit positions, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,respectively.

The slide member 30 is formed with means defining a first passage 32which communicates through a lower opening 33 in the inner wall 35 ofthe slide 30 with the spout passageway 20 in the raised position of theslide member 30, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the passage 32and opening 33 provide for the direct filling of the tub through theopen bottom of the slide member 30.

The slide member 30 further includes a second passage 40 which isisolated from the first passage 32 by a diagonal wall '42. The passage40 communicates with an opening 45 in the wall 35, and in the loweredposition of the slide member 30, the opening 45 is in alignment with thepassageway 20 so that water through the pipe 15 is directed upwardlythrough the slide member. A spray head 48 is mounted on top of the slidemember 30 and includes -a spray plate 50. The head 48 is smoothlyrounded to provide a convenient means by which the slide may be graspedin use for movement in the slot 23. The spray head 50 is set at an angleto the horizontal, such as between 20 and 60 degrees, to direct a sprayoutwardly and upwardly into the tub.

Seal means providing a water tight seal and valve between the passageway20 in the spout 12 and cooperating with the inside surface of the slidewall 35 includes an annular groove 60, as best seen in FIG. 6, formed'in surrounding relation to the opening 20 in the end wall 22. Anannular elastomeric ring, such as the O-ring 62, is received within thebottom of the groove. An annular sealing washer formed of low frictionmaterial is then received in the groove 60 adjacent the O-ring 62 andprojects outwardly of the adjacent surface of the wall 22. The ring '65is preferably of rectangular section and may be made of -a heat stablenatural or synthetic material having a low coefficient of friction andcapable of being received in sealing relationshi with the planar surfaceof slide wall 35 of the slide member 30. Suitable materials for the ring65 may be, for example, polyamide resins filled with a material having alow coeffi-cient of friction, such as molybdenum disulfide and the like,polytetrafluoroethylene, either filled or unfilled, or a natural orsynthetic elastomeric material which is provided with a low coefficientof friction sealing and wearing surface, as for example a seal andbearing member, being partially or totally encapsulated with afluorocarbon resin. In the latter instance, the seal and bearing membersmay be proportioned in size to take the place both of O-ring 62 and ofthe ring 65, and effectively accomplishes the same function as both ofthese members. The seal including the ring 65 and O-ring 62 forms awater tigiht seal at the passageway when the ring 65 holds the O-ring 62compressed in the groove '60. Thus, the O-ring 62 provides both thespring means for biasing the ring 65 against the adjacent outer surfaceof the slide 30, and provides a fluid tight seal between the opening 22and the wall '35. In instances in which polytetrafluoroethylene, orfluorocarbon resin seal and bearing members are used in place of thering 65 and the 'O-ring 62, it is preferred in accordance with thepresent invention to include a resilient member which in effect operatesas a spring means to provide an efficient seal while at the same timeproviding a low friction surface -for movement of the slide member 30.Generally, fluorocarbon covered elastomeric O-rin-gs provide bothcharacteristics, that is, a seal and bearing member which is resilientto provide a seal and which also includes a surface having a lowcoefficient of friction and is thus a good bearing surface.

Means for retaining the slide member 30 against the ring 65 with theO-ring 62 compressed includes an end plate 70 and -a gasket 72. Theplate 70 is screwed to the end of the arms 24 and 25 by screws 73. Thegasket 72 is preferably made of a heat resistant material oifering asuitable low friction bearing surface, for example polyami-de resins,polytetrallu-oroethylene resins, or elastomeric materials, which havebeen modified or altered in composition or structure to provide asuitable low friction surface thereby eliminating metal to metal contactbetween the slide member and the plate 70 so that the slide is guided inits movement between the gasket '72 and the ring '65. It will be seen byreferring to FIG. 4 that the slide member 30 is preferably square insection, and the ends of the arms 24 and 25 are of such a length thatwhen the plate 70 is brought to bear against the arms, this results in asulficient compression of the O-ring 62 by the annular ring '65 as toform a trouble-free, fluid-tight, long-wearing seal.

It will be noted by reference to FIG. 2 that the wall 42 separating anddividing the upper and lower conduit portions of the slide '30 isslanted rearwardly downwardly toward the opening '45, so that in theraised position of the slide, any water which is entrapped therein isfree to flow out through the opening 45 thus draining the shower head 48and the passage of entrapped water. Similarly, the lower passage 32 isself-draining in that it is open through the bottom of the slide 30.

Preferably, the portion of the wall 35 extending between the -wallopenings 33 and is of sufficient length to form a sealing land areaatthe ring when the slide is in an intermediate position between the upperand lowermost positions, as it is illustrated in FIG. 1. In thisintermediate position, the passage 20 is blocked by the wall 3'5, and nowater can flow into either the upper or lower portions of the slide 30.Thus, in this position the device 10 operates as a diverter valveforcing the water upwardly into an overhead shower, such as the showershown in FIG. 7.

In the operation of the embodiment described above, when it is desiredto fill the tub, the slide member 30 is raised to its upper position asshown in FIG. 2 with the opening 33 communicating with the passageway20. Water may then flow directly downwardly into the tub for filling thetub, as indicated by the arrows 82. The upper or raised position of theslide may be defined by a lower pin 84 which extends transverselythrough the walls of the slide member and which engages the lowersurface of the arms 24 and 25 in the raised position.

When the upwardly directed shower is desired, one merely needs to graspthe shower head 48 and move the slide member 30 smoothly to the loweredposition, which brings the opening '45 in alignment with the passageway20, and the upper pin '85 against the upper surfaces of the arms 24 and25, as shown in FIG. 3. The water through the pipe 15 is then directedupwardly into the passage 40, and then upwardly and outwardly throughthe spray plate 50. In this mode, one may enjoy a cleansing and rinsingspray directed to the lower extremities of the body. Such a spray hasalso been found very helpful for washing children standing in the tubsince it does not frighten children by spraying downwardly on top oftheir heads and at the same time provides a relatively dry atmospherefor the person washing the child.

When the overhead spray is desired, the slide member 30 is positionedmidway between the raised and lowered positions, as shown in FIG. 1.This position is not critical and, may be easily recognized by the factthat, when this position is selected, water will not come out of theslide member 30 but will be forced out of the overhead shower. It iswithin the scope of this invention to provide a suitable detent betweenthe portions forming the slot 23 and the slide member 30 if it isdesirable to locate this center position with greater accuracy.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-13 operatessubstantially upon the same principles described above, but providesgreater freedom in decorating so as to complement or blend with otheritems of bathroom decor. Thus, the tub filling device includes a fillingspout 102, which corresponds essentially in function to the spout 12 ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 16. The spout 102 may be formed with a suitableinternal passageway, such as the passageway 103 as seen in FIG. 10 forattachment to a source of bath water.

The spout 102 is terminated in a center portion or manifold 105consisting of a section of a hollow cylinder which is formed withparallel vertically oriented planar faces 106 and 107. The hollowcylinder portion 105 is formed with a single port or passage in each ofthe faces 106 and 107. Thus, the face 106 has an opening 110 therein,and the face 107 has an opening 111, which is angularly offset withrespect to the opening 110.

The valve or water control device of this embodiment includes a pair ofconduit or end members and positioned on either side of the centerportion 105. The end members 115 and 120 may each be respectively formedas portions of cylinders, and are each provided with cooperating planarvalve surfaces or faces 125, and are connected together by suitablemeans for concurrent ortational movement on the spout 102. Thus, adecorative scallop shell 128 or other suitable handle may be secured,such as by screws 129, to each of the members 115 and 120 to provide aconvenient means for grasping by which the members may be rotatedtogether in selecting the modes of operation.

Each of the members 115 and 120 is provided with a single port, such asthe port 130 in the left hand member 115 and the port 132 in the righthand member 120, which ports are movable into registering alignmentrespectively with the openings 110 and 111 in the center portion 105 asthe members are rotated. The passageway 130 opens radially outwardly andconnects with a shower head 135 through a short piece of bent tubing136, so that the shower head 135 is at least partially concealed underthe scallop handle 128. The passageway 132 in the portion 120 extendsfrom the face 125 radially outwardly to a filling spout 140, which issimilarly bent or configured to be normally concealed by the scallop128.

' The end members 115 and 120 are mounted for rotation on the centersection 105 by means of a rod which extends through the assembly and issecured by nuts 146 and 147 secured at the end. Although the seallophandle 128 which straddles the center section 105 is secured to the endsections 115 and 120, and serves to effect simultaneous movement ofthese sections, the ends of the rod 145 may be suitably splined orsecured to 1 the respective end members 115 and 120 to cause them toturn together as the handle 128 is raised and lowered.

The valve means between the adjacent planar sections of the fillingdevice is preferably constructed according to the valve described indetail in connection with FIGS. 1-6, and may include an O-ring 150 inthe bottom of an annular groove 151 surrounding the openings or passages110 and 111 in the center portion 105. A sealing ring 152 (FIG. 11) isalso received within the groove 151 and has an end which extendsoutwardly into engagement with the adjacent faces 125 of the members 115and 120 for sliding, sealing contact therewith. The rings 152 arepreferably formed of a shape and low friction material similar to thatof the rings 65.

Parallelism and alignment between each of the end members 115 and 120and the center portion 105 is maintained throughout the movement of theend members by pairs of plastic buttons or protuberances forming bearingsurfaces 155 and 156, there being formed a pair of such bearing surfaceson each of the faces 106 and 107 angularly spaced from the sealing rings150. These surfaces assure the uniform distribution of sealing forcesover the exposed sliding surfaces of the rings 152 and thus assure thatthe sealing rings remain in fiat sealing contact with the adjacentsurfaces of the end members throughout the sliding movement therewith.The material of the protuberances or surfaces 155 and 156 is preferablynylon or a similar low-friction material, such as that of the rings 150,so that only low-friction, long-wearing material contacts the relativelymoving surfaces of the end members.

The surfaces 155 and 156 are raised slightly or extended outwardly fromthe opposite planar surfaces of the center portion 105 and thus definean open clearance space 160 (FIG. between the center portion 105 and theadjacent surfaces of the end members 115 and 120. The space 160 permitsair to enter into either the shower head 135 or the filling spout 140,when they are moved out of their operating positions so that they mayreadily be drained of any entrapped water.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 7l3 may be best understood byreference to FIGS. 12a, 12 and c. In FIG. 12a, the handle 128 is shownin the raised position with the passage or port 110 in communicationwith the shower passageway 130 to direct the spray upwardly andoutwardly from the head 135 into the tub. At this position, the oppositeport 111 in the center section 105 is blocked off.

When it is desired to use the overhead shower 80, the handle 128 isgrasped to move or rotate the end members 115 and 120 to theintermediate position shown in FIG. 12, wherein both the passages 110and 111 are blocked by the walls 125 thus forcing the water up the pipeleading to the shower head 80. When it is desired to fill the tub, thevalve is rotated to the lowered position placing the port 111 incommuoncation with the tub filling passageway 132, and blocking theshower head 135.

The arrangement ofthe rings 65 or 162 and the elastomeric sealing rings62 or 150 is such that the need for a precision fit between therelatively sliding components of each of the embodiments is eliminated,and an effective seal is maintained over widely varying conditions. Theemployment of only low-friction material engaging the surfaces of thesliding or rotating members permits these members to be assembledagainst the sealing rings With sufficient force so that an effectiveseal is provided while, at the same time, assuring smooth, easymovement. The O-rings 62 and 150 are subject only to static forces andare not subjected to the dynamic or sliding forces, and thus provide anon-deterorating seal which is characterized by a long and trouble freelife. In addition, the seal is one which is relatively unaffected bytemperature and is not adversely affected either by the application ofhot water or the expansion of the parts due to heat.

It is further understood that the invention herein is not limited to theprecise forms of shower heads shown, since the form of the head is oftenone of personal preference. Either fixed or movable heads may beemployed, capable of directing a spray upwardly and outwardly into thetub.

It will therefore be seen that this embodiment of the invention providesa combined shower and tub filling de-' vice which is compact and whichis adapted to form part of the decor of a bathroom. It utilizes thevalve including the O-ring having the combined function of sealing andforming a spring bias for the rings 152. The individual parts lendthemselves to ease of manufacture and simplicity of construction andmaintenance. In each embodiment, the usual valve is eliminated, andmeans are provided in the tub filling spout for the enjoyment of eitheran upwardly directed shower, overhead showering or tub filling asdesired.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tub mounted spraying device comprising a spout adapted to extendinwardly into a bath tub, means in said spout defining a waterpassageway therethrough opening at a wall thereof, a diverter membermounted for relatively sliding movement on said spout, means in saidmember forming a cooperating wall portion adjacent said spout wall andhaving a passage therein opening at said wall portion and communicatingwith said passageway of said spout in one selectable position of saidmember, means forming a spray head on said member communicating withsaid passage and positioned by said member when said member is in saidone position to direct a spray therefrom upwardly and outwardly intosaid tub, and low friction seal and bearing means in said spout wallsurrounding said opening having a portion in sealing engagement with theadjacent said wall portion throughout the sliding movement thereof.

2. A tub mounted spraying device comprising a spout adapted to extendinwardly into a bath tub, means in said spout defining a waterpassageway therethrough opening at a wall thereof, a diverter membermounted for relatively sliding movement on said spout, means in saidmember forming a cooperating wall portion adjacent said spout wall andhaving a passage therein opening at said wall portion and communicatingwith said passageway of said spout in one selecta'ble position of saidmember, means forming a spray head on said member communicating withsaid passage and positioned by said member when said member is in saidone position to direct a spray therefrom upwardly and outwardly intosaid tub, sealing means in said spout wall surrounding said openinghaving a portion in sealing engagement with the adjacent said wallportion throughout the sliding movement thereof, and means opening saidmember passage to atmosphere when not in communication with said spoutpassageway providing for the draining of said spray head of any waterentrapped therein.

3. A combined shower and tub filling device comprising a spout adaptedto be mounted in extending relation into a tub, means in said spoutdefining a passageway terminating at an opening in a wall thereof, meansin said wall defining an annular groove surrounding said opening, anelastomeric rig received in said groove, an annular sealing washerreceived in said groove against said ring projecting outwardly of theadjacent surface of said wall and forming a water tight seal surroundingsaid opening when said ring is compressed, a water directing conduitmember mounted on said spout for relative sliding movement thereon atsaid opening and presenting a wall portion in sealing engagement withthe exposed surface of said sealing washer, means in said conduit memberdefining at least one passageway alignable with said opening upon saidmovement thereof, and means retaining said conduit member in sealingengagement with said washer with said ring compressed in said grooveforming a water tight seal between said opening and the adjacent wallportion of said member.

4. A combined shower and tub filling device comprising a spout adaptedto be mounted in extending relation into a tub, means in said spoutdefining a passageway terminating at an opening in a planar wallthereof, means in said wall defining an annular groove surrounding saidopening, an O-ring received in said groove, an annular sealing washer ofrectangular section received in said groove against said O-ringprojecting outwardly of the adjacent surface of said wall and forming awater tight seal surrounding said opening when said O-ring iscompressed, a water directing conduit member mounted on said spout forrelative sliding movement thereon at said opening and presenting aplanar wall portion in sealing engagement with the exposed surface ofsaid sealing washer, and means in said conduit member defining at leastone passageway aligned with said opening upon said movement thereof, andmeans retaining said conduit member in sealing engagement with saidwasher with said ring compressed in said groove forming a water tightseal between said opening and the adjacent wall portion of said member.

5. A combined tub filling and spraying device comprising a spout adaptedto extend inwardly into a bath tub, means in said spout defining a waterpassageway therethrough, means forming a slot intersecting saidpassageway, a hollow slide member in said slot movable therein betweenraised and lowered positions, means in said slide member defining afirst passage communicating with said passageway in the raised positionthereof and opening into said tub providing for the direct filling ofsaid tub, and a second passage in said slide member isolated from saidfirst passage and opening into said passageway in the lowered positionof said slide member, and a spraying head mounted on the top of saidslide member communicating with said second passage and positioned todirect a spray therefrom upwardly and outwardly into said tub.

6. A combined tub filling and spraying device comprising a spout adaptedto extend inwardly into a bath tub, means in said spout defining a Waterpassageway therethrough, means forming a slot intersecting saidpassageway, a hollow slide member in said slot movable therein betweenraised, intermediate, and lowered posi tions, means in said slide memberdefining a first passage communicating with said passageway in theraised position thereof and opening at the bottom of said member intosaid tub providing for the direct filling of said tub, and a secondpassage in said slide member isolated from said first passage andopening into said passageway in the lowered position of said slidemember, a spraying head mounted on the top of said slide membercommunicating with said second passage and positioned to direct a spraytherefrom upwardly and outwardly into 8 said tub, and a land area onsaid slide positionable adjacent said passageway in'said intermediateposition of said slide member blocking the fiow of water from saidpassageway.

7. The device of claim 6 further including means forming an annulargroove in said spout surrounding the terminal end of said passageway, anO-ring in said groove, and a low friction sealing ring in said groovebetween said O-ring and said member and engageable with said memberthroughout said movement thereof forming a seal between said spout atsaid passageway and said member.

8. A combined tub filling and spray device for a bath tub comprising aspout adapted to extend into said tub and terminating in a manifi-oldhaving opposite walls, means in each of said Walls defining an openingcommunicating with said spout, means forming end members at each side ofsaid manifold and each having a wall portion positioned adjacent one ofthe opposite walls of said manifold, means mounting said end members forcon- 20 current movement on said manifold, means in each of said endmembers defining a passage terminating at the said wall portion thereofand each said passages being selectably registrable with one of saidmanifold openings in a different moved position of said members on saidmanifold, means forming a shower head on one of said members positionedto direct a spray of water therefrom upwardly and outwardly into saidtub when the associated said passage is in alignment with one of saidopenings in one position of said members, and means in the other of 3said members forming a filling spout communicating with the saidpassageway therein and positioned to direct filling water into said tubwhen the associated said passage is in alignment with the other of saidmanifold openings at another moved position of said members.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising means in said manifolddefining an annular recess surrounding each of said manifold openings,an O-ring received in each of said recesses, and a further ring receivedin each of said recesses between said O-ring and the adjacent wall 40portions of said end members, and the said means mounting said endmembers on said manifold holding said member wall portions against saidsecond rings with said O-rings compressed to form a water tight sealbetween said manifold openings and said end members throughout the saidmovement of said members.

7/1955 Australia. 1/1957 France.

55 LAVERENE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TUB MOUNTED SPRAYING DEVICE COMPRISING A SPOUT ADPATED TO EXTENDINWARDLY INTO A BATH TUB, MEANS IN SAID SPOUT DEFINING A WATERPASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH OPENING AT A WALL THEREOF, A DIVERTER MEMBERMOUNTED FOR RELATIVELY SLIDING MOVEMENT ON SAID SPOUT, MEANS IN SAIDMEMBER FORMING A COOPERATING WALL PORTION ADJACENT SAID SPOUT WALL ANDHAVING A PASSAGE THEREIN OPENING AT SAID WALL PORTION AND COMMUNICATINGWITH SAID PASSAGEWAY OF SAID SPOUT IN ONE SELECTABLE POSITION OF SAIDMEMBER, MEANS FORMING A SPRAY HEAD ON SAID MEMBER COMMUNICATING WITHSAID PASSAGE AND POSITIONED BY SAID MEMBER WHEN SAID MEMBER IS IN SAIDONE POSITION TO DIRECT A SPRAY THEREFROM UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INTOSAID TUB, AND LOW FRICTION SEAL AND BEARING MEANS IN SAID SPOUT WALLSURROUNDING SAID OPENING HAVING A PORTION IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THEADJACENT SAID WALL PORTION THROUGHOUT THE SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREOF.